Thai Young Coconuts

[Guest guest]

yes... this is true.

this question comes up every year or so on this list.

i would check old posts.

 

don't remember if it leaches into the coco's

 

a~

 

gojikid <jake wrote:

I've heard that they use chemicals to keep them white and prohibit

mold on the long boat ride from Thailand. Does anyone know if this is

true? If so has anyone tested for chemicals that have leached into the

coconuts water?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

 

Regarding your question about chemical treatment of young coconuts, yes, to

my knowledge all the imported young coconuts are so treated. Following is

some information, in 2 parts. The first is an extensive piece of research on

this topic done by John Kohler when the issue first came to light a few

years ago. Then, toward the bottom, there is some information directly from

BASF, manufacturer of the chemical used.

 

I wish to acknowledge Laurie Masters for gathering, archiving, and sharing

this information. Laurie and I have been friends for more than a decade, and

she introduced me to raw foods way back then.

 

Laurie is a wonderful editor (Precision Revision: I turn what you wrote into

what you meant) and serves as editor for Dr. Doug Graham (The 80/10/10

Diet), Cherie Soria (director of Living Light Culinary Arts Institute and

author of Angel Foods), and others.

 

Laurie's first publication, The 80/10/10 Success Guide, is literally on

press this week and will be available very shortly. Watch for an

announcement soon!

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

_____

 

 

John Kohler's research

 

 

<Sales DiscountJuicers.com To:

<lauriem Laurie Masters Friday, October 21,

2005 11:04 AM Re: Young Coco info?

Laurie, the hosting went down. see it at

<http://web.archive.org/web/20041012053010/http://www.youngcoconuts.com/repo

rts.html>

http://web.archive.org/web/20041012053010/http://www.youngcoconuts.com/repor

ts.html. you can use it, just please quote the web site

<http://www.youngcoconuts.com/> www.youngcoconuts.com, and myself as the

author. Thanks, John

 

_____

 

Hi, John. I would like to reference your young coco article in Doug's new

book...but it looks like you've pulled it off the Web. Is that because you

no longer consider it valid, or was there some other reason? Thanks, Laurie

_____

 

 

 

 

<http://www.youngcoconuts.com/reports.html>

http://www.youngcoconuts.com/reports.html <http://www.youngcoconuts.com/>

 

 

 

Reports of Young coconuts being treated prior to shipment

 

We have had reports that the young coconuts that are shipped over from

Thailand may be treated with a preservative and a fungicide before being

shipped.

 

The young coconuts are it dipped into a solution of sodium meta bisulfite

(3% concentration with a fungicide thiobendazole) for 5 minutes.

 

This information has not been confirmed. We are still investigating this,

and want to get product testing done to see if there is any residual

chemicals inside the coconut meat and water.

 

We are still investigating this, and want to get product testing done to see

if there is any residual chemicals inside the coconut meat and water.

 

I believe the coconuts nuts are treated in this way for two reasons:

 

1. The Sodium solution acts as a " preservative " . Similar preservatives are

commonly used in beer making and wine making - Sulfides (Sulfur dioxide) as

well as dried fruits (so they keep their " pretty color). If the nuts were

not preserved, they would turn brown and begin to oxidize.

 

2. The Thiabendazole is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide used to control

fruit and vegetable diseases such as mold, rot, blight, and stain. It is

also active against storage diseases and Dutch Elm disease. In livestock and

humans, thiabendazole is applied to treat several helminth species such as

roundworms. Thiabendazole is also used medicinally as a chelating agent to

bind metals. This same fungicide is widely used on CONVENTIONAL produce,

most commonly bananas. If you read most ANY box of conventional bananas, it

will say " treated with Thiobendazole " .. It also appears that Apples, Pears

and Citrus are widely treated with this same fungicide.

 

Please read on for further information and links regarding the above two

chemicals.

 

1. More information on Sodium meta Bisulfite -

 

 

* MSDS <http://www.deltrex.com.au/products/s209.htm> Sheet

 

* Canada's information about Sulfitest

<http://www.mpshu.on.ca/FoodSafety/sulphite.htm>

 

* The <http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/ux7d80e8.html> Registry of

Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances

 

2. Thiobendazole

 

 

* Pesticide Information Profile

<http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/pyrethrins-ziram/thiabendazol

e-ext.html>

 

* Evaluation of pesticides in food

<http://www.inchem.org/documents/jmpr/jmpmono/v071pr08.htm>

 

*

<http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/regions/apo/publications/tf_asia/chapter24.pdf>

Management of Fungal Diseases in Tropical Fruits PDF

 

Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) 148798

Synonyms Thiobendazole

1H-Benzimidazole, 2-(4-thiazolyl)-

Arbotect

Storite

2-(4-Thiazolyl)benzimidazole

Analytical Method EPA Method 641

Molecular Formula C10H7N3S

Use FUNGICIDE FOR SPOILAGE CONTROL OF CITRUS FRUIT; FOR TREATMENT OF

DUTCH ELM DISEASE IN TREES; FOR CONTROL OF FUNGAL DISEASES OF SEED POTATOES;

MEDICATION ANTIHELMINTIC (NEMATODES); MEDICATION (VET): ANTHELMINTIC.

Agricultural fungicide Medication: anthelmintic As fungicide, controls green

mold, blue mold, and stem end rot of citrus fruits;to control Fusarium basal

rot and Penicillium blue mold on ornamentals bulbs and corms; to control

crown rot on bananas; to control blue mold rot, bull's eye rot and gray mold

on apples and pears; to control black rot, scurf and foot rot of sweet

potatoes; to control Fusarium (dry rot) in potato storage. Also as a

preservative for reconstituted tobacco. Control of Aspergillus, Botrytis,

Ceratocystis, Cercospora, Colletotrichum, Corticium, Diaporthe, Diplodia,

Fusarium, Gibberella, Gloeosporium, Oospora, Penicillium, Phome,

Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Septoria, Thielaviopsis, Verticillium spp., etc in

asparagus, avocados, bananas, barley, beans, cabbage, celery, chicory,

cherries, citrus fruit, cotton, some cucurbits, flax, mangoes, mushrooms,

oats, onions, ornamentals, pawpaws, pome fruit, potatoes, rice, soya beans,

strawberries, sugar beet, sweet potatoes, tobacco, tomatoes, turf, vines,

and wheat. Also used for control of storage diseases of fruit and

vegetables. A food additive permitted in the feed and drinking water of

animals and/or for the treatment of food-producing animals; also permitted

in food for human consumption.

Apparent Color COLORLESS CRYSTALS; WHITE TO PRACTICALLY WHITE POWDER;

White crystals; Tan crystals

Odor ODORLESS

Melting Point 304-305 DEG C

Molecular Weight 201.26

Half Life 30 days

 

Conclusion:

If one is eating conventional produce: the treatments of the young coconuts

are not anything " outside of the ordinary " . If one is eating non-organic

bananas, one is probably getting Thiobendazole exposure. Its also present

on apples, citrus, pears, and other fruits and vegetables (as mentioned

above). The Sulfides that the cocos are dipped in are also present in many

processed foods, as well as wines and dried fruits. Once again, this

chemical probably also appears in one's diet at some point anyway.

 

I am personally reducing my consumption of young coconuts until further

investigation and testing can be done to determine the amount of residual

chemicals absorbed into the meat and water of the coconut.

 

I am normally very sensitive to any " conventional " treatment of produce. If

I eat other kinds of produce that is treated, I will break out in rash.

When consuming young coconuts, this has not happened to me. My

girlfriend reports that occasionally after consuming a young coconut she

will have an asthmatic response. This is possibly due to the level of

sulfites present in some coconuts. I believe that some coconuts may absorb

the chemicals in greater concentration than others.

 

Another precaution I am taking is to never unwrap the outer plastic the

coconuts come wrapped in, and only handle the coconuts by the plastic. I

will no longer be composting the young coconut shells in my organic compost

pile due to the fungicide (which has a half life of 30 days).

 

If I had to choose between non-organic bananas, apples, pears or citrus

fruits for a " does " of Thiobendazole, I would much rather consume young

coconuts to get my daily dose.

 

The above statements are my personal opinions, and research. This is not

given as medical advice. Please consult your doctor for medical advice..

 

 

C2002 YoungCoconuts.com all rights reserved.

 

_____

 

 

<http://www.basf.de/en/produkte/chemikalien/anorganika/schwefel/natriumdi_so

rten.htm?id=V00-74JyH5xn.bsf-Hp>

http://www.basf.de/en/produkte/chemikalien/anorganika/schwefel/natriumdi_sor

ten.htm?id=V00-74JyH5xn.bsf-Hp says that sodium metabisulfite is indeed a

bleaching agent for vegetable fibers. Makes sense, as it prevents the white

husk from browning.

 

Product information

Sodium metabisulfite grades

 

Reducing agent. Auxiliary for water and sewage treatment. Bleaching agent.

Auxiliary for the film and photographic industry. Preservative.

 

Application

 

* In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for various purposes ,

e. g. as a reducing agent, for purifying and isolating aldehydes and

ketones. For destroying waste bromine.

 

* In drinking water treatment to remove excess chlorine. In the

treatment of wastewater, e. g. from electroplating plants, to neutralize

chromic acid; to remove excess chlorine in the neutralization of cyanide. In

special cases to remove oxygen from boiler feed water.

 

* For cleaning and bleaching wool, jute, and other vegetable fibres.

 

* In the paper and pulp industry for bleaching ground wood.

 

* Sodium Metabisulfite photo grade in the photographic and film

industry for preparing developer solutions, for acidifying fixing baths.

 

* Sodium Metabisulfite food grade (E223): For preserving foodstuffs

(restricted use in accordance with the additives approval regulations, E

223). As anti-melanosis additive for sea food.

 

_____

 

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

gojikid

Tuesday, August 07, 2007 11:46 AM

rawfood

[Raw Food] Thai Young Coconuts

 

 

I've heard that they use chemicals to keep them white and prohibit

mold on the long boat ride from Thailand. Does anyone know if this is

true? If so has anyone tested for chemicals that have leached into the

coconuts water?

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Elchanan,

 

>Regarding your question about chemical treatment of young coconuts, yes,

to

my knowledge all the imported young coconuts are so treated.

 

Whole Foods will soon be carrying " organic " (wild) young coconuts that

have not been so treated, thanks to raw fooder importers Roman and Antje

DeVivo (http://www.genefitnutrition.com).

 

Bob Avery

[Guest guest]

I am so glad to hear that Bob! Hanks for that info!

 

--

Sharie

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,

Sounds a bit unlikely, though I'm open to any possibility. There is a great

fear of insect transmission, an offshoot of the germ theory way of thinking.

I do hope they are successful!!!

 

Best,

Elchanan

 

_____

 

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

Bob Avery

Sunday, August 12, 2007 8:58 PM

rawfood

[Raw Food] Re: Thai Young Coconuts

 

 

Elchanan,

 

>Regarding your question about chemical treatment of young coconuts, yes,

to

my knowledge all the imported young coconuts are so treated.

 

Whole Foods will soon be carrying " organic " (wild) young coconuts that

have not been so treated, thanks to raw fooder importers Roman and Antje

DeVivo (http://www.genefitn <http://www.genefitnutrition.com/>

utrition.com).

 

Bob Avery